Concurrent chemoradiation therapy with docetaxel (DOC) at a dose of 10 mg/m(2) twice a week contributed to laryngeal preservation.

To determine laryngeal preservation following concurrent chemoradiation therapy with DOC.

A total of 141 patients with untreated T2N0M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx were included in the study. The treatments were either radiation therapy alone or DOC intravenously administered at a dose of 10 mg/m(2) once or twice a week during radiotherapy with 4 MV linac X-ray (total of 66 Gy for 33 days).

The response and CR rates were 100% and 90.5% in the once-weekly combination group, and 100% and 97.6% in the twice-weekly combination group, respectively. The 5-year survival rates were 76.8% in the once-weekly combination group and 96.8% in the twice-weekly combination group. The 5-year laryngeal preservation rates were 83.8% in the once-weekly combination group and 97.6% in the twice-weekly combination group. The most common side effects were mucositis, dermatitis, and alopecia. The patients who received DOC twice a week showed more severe cancer tissue degeneration, and pathological examination of serial sections indicated that the safety margin for partial laryngectomy was considered to be 3 mm from the gross tumor with good glottal closure.